Vladimir Putin's unexpected piano recital steals the show in China

Controversial Russian president Vladimir Putin showed off his piano skills Sunday before meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing. 

Putin played Moscow Windows and the Evening Song during his impromptu piano recital, Russia's Sputnik news agency reported. 

This isn't the first time we've seen Putin showing off his interests outside of politics. In the past, social media has collectively lost its mind over photos of the president riding a horse shirtless, shooting guns, and fishing.

The piano performance was no different, with many on social media tweeting about the video and suggesting someone tune the piano. 

"Hardly a virtuoso performance, and the piano is out of tune. But with his tiny fingers I doubt your little puppet POTUS could do better," @DFeige tweeted. 

Putin acknowledged during a press conference Monday that the piano was off-key, Reuters reported.

"It's a pity that the piano was out of tune," Putin said. "It was quite hard to play, even for me, someone who plays with two fingers. I cannot say I played, I was just pressing the keys with two or three fingers.

Others tweeted that the performance showed another side of the Russian leader. 

"Dude can't be all that bad! Imagine Trump sitting at a piano?? But, there are no piano tuners in Beijing?" @CincinatusCee tweeted. 

Putin was in China for the country's Belt and Road economic forum. 

Follow Mary Bowerman on Twitter: @MaryBowerman